well, ive seen the light!

[Aldenb]

that's right, ive seen the light: I'm going kayak!

No, just kidding. Really.

No, but I did have an incredible experience today that might change the way I look at c-1.

I kicked my seat up to 8" a little while back, but I didn't try it until today.

Let's just say that I paddled for 2.5 hrs without feeling the slightest discomfort! It was incredible! Usually I can go for about 1.5 hrs and then my knees are done. Basically half the Ocoee and then I have to gut out the last half. Can't enjoy hades Hole, ect.

But today it was like riding a lounge chair the whole way down. I didn't even have to wait for my legs to stretch out when I was getting in -- just pop in and go!

I was a little worried about the higher center of gravity (my seats are normally 5.5") but it was not noticeably different at all. Maybe a tad harder to roll, but what the hades, my technique could stand to get a little better.

I couldnt believe it -- here I was surfing waves at the end of the 3 mile run when I'm usually sprinting to the takeout to get out of my boat! No more taking knee breaks while everyone else is surfing. No more shying away from longer runs. No more having to stretch in the eddy while my competitors are training.

This is really going to change things. I had always worried about higher seats, but now I'm ridin high baby!

Anyone up for Linville?
Alden

[jKelly-Rand]

Then there's hope. I'm suffering from those same symptoms, and I just lowered the saddle from 7 to 6. I saw a gentleman from Cleveland at the armada paddling an Atom with a 9" saddle. He was playing the holes with everyone else. He had added heel blocks to the underside of his cockpit so that when he rolled he could lock him self down to the saddle yet still beable to exit if needed. I will probably go the same route next year after I am more skilled. Do you think its possible to make a workable 8" saddle in a Viper? The heel blocks would have to be awful shallow to allow a wet exit.

til next
Jim

[ALdenb]

I believe I've also met this same guy in the Atom. Interesting set-up he's got . . . My boat just has basic thigh straps. Being up higher puts the straps in a different place on your legs though, so I may move them. When I raised the seat I did build up the seat-back too, because that keeps you from falling out backwards. But I suppose those heel blocks might remedy that.
I . . . am going to go paddle!
Alden